ABSTRACT: In neuroscience research, cell culture systems are
essential experimental platforms. It is of great interest to explore in vivo-like culture substrates. We
explored how basic properties of neural cells, nuclei polarization, phenotypic
differentiation and distribution/migration, were affected by the culture at
poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fibrous scaffolds, using a multipotent
mitogen-expanded human neural progenitor cell (HNPC) line. HNPCs were seeded,
at four different surfaces: two different electrospun PLLA (d = 1.2 - 1.3 μm) substrates
(parallel or random aligned fibers), and planar PLL- and PLLA surfaces. Nuclei
analysis demonstrated a non-directed cellular migration at planar surfaces and
random fibers, different from cultures at aligned fibers where HNPCs were
oriented parallel with the fibers. At aligned fibers, HNPCs displayed the same
capacity for phenotypic differentiation as after culture on the planar
surfaces. However, at random fibers, HNPCs showed a significant lower level of
phenotypic differentiation compared with cultures at the planar surfaces. A
clear trend towards greater neuronal formation at aligned fibers, compared to
cultures at random fibers, was noted. We demonstrated that the topography of in vivo-resembling PLLA scaffolds
significantly influences HNPC behavior, proven by different migration behavior,
phenotypic differentiation potential and nuclei polarization. This knowledge is
useful in future exploration of in vivo-resembling
neural cell system using electrospun scaffolds.